Damane still missing three months after river tragedy 

…as ghost rumours add to family’s grief 

Kabelo Masoabi 

NEARLY three months after 26-year-old family man, Thapelo Damane, was reportedly swept away by the Mohokare River near Ha ’Mathata village in Maputsoe, his body has still not been recovered. 

Despite extensive search efforts by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), Damane remains missing, leaving his family trapped in uncertainty and without the closure they desperately seek. 

Police diver Sub-Inspector Tlohang Sepiriti said it was possible that Damane’s body may be trapped beneath rocks on the riverbed. He explained that as water levels recede and sand shifts, sunlight could eventually expose the remains. He urged the family and members of the public to remain vigilant for any signs along the river. 

Damane disappeared on 23 April while crossing the Mohokare River, where he earned a living helping herd livestock into South Africa through the porous border. 

Known to friends as Skitiri or Mafifi, he was the sole breadwinner for his family. His work involved guiding sheep and goats across the river, a dangerous task he performed daily to support his wife, young daughter, mother and two sisters. 

On the day he disappeared, he left home as usual, following a truck transporting sheep and goats to the river crossing. His mother, ’Mamoliehi Damane, had no idea it would be the last time she would see her only son. 

According to witnesses, Thapelo had just finished helping move nearly 50 animals across the river when soldiers reportedly appeared, causing people at the crossing to scatter. 

Amid the confusion, it remains unclear whether he was swept away while attempting to return home or while trying to cross the river again. 

Hours later, after he failed to return home, one of his friends informed the family that he had been swept away by the river. 

Police divers later searched the area but found no trace of him. 

LMPS spokesperson Thabo Mohai confirmed that despite extensive search efforts, Damane’s body has never been recovered. 

Rumours deepen family’s anguish 

In recent weeks, rumours have spread through Ha ’Mathata claiming that villagers have seen what they believe to be Damane’s ghost along the riverbank. 

According to the stories, the figure is dressed in the same clothes he was last seen wearing and silently watches passers-by before disappearing. Others claim they hear his voice calling their names near the river, only to find no one there. 

There is, however, no independent evidence to support these claims. 

For Damane’s wife, Nomzikelelo, the rumours have only intensified the family’s grief. 

“People are afraid to go to the river. They keep saying they have seen him wearing the same clothes he disappeared in. Others say they only hear his voice calling them by name, but when they look around, no one is there. 

“These rumours are deeply distressing and are making my pain even worse. I no longer feel comfortable living in the village. I think the whole family he left behind needs counselling before we can truly begin to move on,” she said. 

The family has also sought help from prophets and traditional healers in the hope of finding answers. 

“They all say the same thing – that Thapelo is trapped somewhere in the river – but none of them can identify exactly where,” she said. 

A family still waiting 

For his mother, the greatest pain lies not only in losing her son but also in being unable to lay him to rest. 

She continues to hope that his body will one day be recovered so the family can give him a dignified burial. 

Friends describe Thapelo as an experienced river crosser and a strong swimmer, making his disappearance even harder to comprehend. 

Although the family now presumes him dead, they believe his body could be identified through his distinctive tattoos. His name, “Thapelo”, is tattooed on one shoulder, while the word “Peace” appears on the other. 

At the time he disappeared, he had reportedly removed his clothes and was wearing only boxer shorts before entering the river. 

A dangerous crossing 

Damane’s disappearance reflects a broader tragedy along the Mohokare River, where many Basotho risk their lives crossing into South Africa in search of income. 

In Maputsoe alone, between December 2020 and January 2021, three people – two women and one man – drowned while attempting similar crossings, and none of their bodies were recovered. 

During the same period, at least seven bodies were recovered from nearby rivers. 

Many migrants rely on makeshift flotation devices, such as inflated mattresses and tyre tubes, to cross swollen rivers, particularly during the rainy season. 

One river guide, who identified himself only as Stoki, said the dangers are well known, but economic hardship leaves many with little choice. 

“It is a risk we face every single day just to put bread on the table for our families. The waters of the Mohokare are powerful and unforgiving. No matter how strong a swimmer you are, an unseen rock or hidden current can strike without warning and pull you under. 

“I know that at any moment I could lose my life out there. But I still choose this path because doing nothing would mean watching my family starve. And that, to me, is a far greater fear,” he said. 

For families like the Damanes, the statistics represent far more than numbers. They represent lives cut short, loved ones who never came home, and families left with grief, uncertainty and unanswered questions. 

Nearly three months after Thapelo disappeared, his family continues to wait, holding on to one hope: that someone, somewhere, will find him and finally bring them the peace that has so far remained out of reach. 

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